Marguerite Whitley: What Happened to O.J. Simpson’s First Wife?

Marguerite Whitley is best known as the first wife of O.J. Simpson. He was a famous football player and actor. She knew him before he became a big star. Their love story began when they were both very young.

The couple stayed married for 12 years and had three children. They shared many happy days, but life was not always easy. Simpson’s fame brought new problems. Later, a sad family loss made their story even more painful.

Many people still want to know about Marguerite Whitley in 2026. Where did she go after her divorce? What happened to her family? This article shares her early life, love story, marriage, children, and the hard times she faced.

Marguerite Whitley Quick Bio


Full Name	Marguerite L. Whitley
Known As	O.J. Simpson’s first wife
Birthday	March 20, 1949, reported
Age	77 in 2026
Birthplace	California, USA, reported
Nationality	American
Ethnicity	African American
Religion	Christian, reported
Education	Galileo High School, USC, reported
Career	Interior designer
First Husband	O.J. Simpson
Marriage	June 24, 1967
Divorce	1979
Second Husband	Rudolph Lewis
Third Husband	Anthony Thomas
Children	Arnelle, Jason, Aaren
Daughter Aaren	Died in 1979
Net Worth	About $3 million, unverified
Residence	Fresno, California, reported
Current Status	Living privately, based on available reports

Who Is Marguerite Whitley?

Marguerite Whitley is an American woman who became known as O.J. Simpson’s first wife. Her full name is Marguerite L. Whitley. She was part of his life before he became one of the most famous football players in America.

Reports say she was born on March 20, 1949. This would make her 77 years old in 2026. She is African American and spent her early years in California. However, some facts about her birth and childhood remain unclear.

Marguerite never liked too much public attention. She wanted a simple life with her family. Even when her husband became famous, she did not try to become a star herself. She cared more about her home and children.

Marguerite Whitley’s Early Life

Marguerite Whitley reportedly grew up in California. Some reports say she was born in Los Angeles. She spent much of her young life away from public attention. There is little known about her parents or the home where she grew up.

She has a sister named Veterdata Jones. Her sister appeared in a 2024 film about Nicole Brown Simpson. However, she did not share much about Marguerite’s private life. Their family has always kept many personal matters away from the news.

Marguerite reportedly went to Galileo High School in San Francisco. Some websites also say she studied at the University of Southern California. These school details have not been fully checked. Her life became better known after she met O.J. Simpson.

How Marguerite Whitley Met O.J. Simpson

Marguerite Whitley met O.J. Simpson when they were teenagers. Their love story began in an unusual way. Before dating Simpson, Marguerite was seeing his close friend, Al Cowlings. The two young men had known each other for years.

Cowlings once asked Simpson to help him with Marguerite. Simpson started talking to her, hoping to help his friend. But things changed. Marguerite and Simpson began to like each other. Soon, their friendship turned into a love story.

The two reportedly started dating around 1965. Simpson was still a young football player with big dreams. He had little money and was not yet famous. Marguerite liked him before the world knew his name. Their bond grew stronger over time.

Marguerite Whitley and O.J. Simpson’s Wedding

Marguerite Whitley and O.J. Simpson got married on June 24, 1967. Their wedding took place in San Francisco. Marguerite was only 18 years old, while Simpson was 19. They were young and excited to start their life as husband and wife.

At that time, Simpson was working hard to become a great football player. He played for the University of Southern California. In 1968, he won the Heisman Trophy. This award made him one of the best-known young players in America.

In 1969, the Buffalo Bills picked Simpson to play in the NFL. He signed a large deal and began earning good money. The young couple moved to the Buffalo area of New York. Their quiet life soon changed as Simpson became famous.

Marguerite Whitley’s Life as an NFL Wife

Life became very different for Marguerite Whitley after Simpson joined the NFL. The couple had more money and lived in beautiful homes. They spent time in New York and California. Simpson’s growing fame also brought many new people into their lives.

Their home in Los Angeles had five bedrooms, a swimming pool, and places to play sports. It looked like a dream home. But Marguerite was often alone with the children while Simpson traveled for games and other work.

She also found it hard to deal with Simpson’s fans. In a 1977 interview, Marguerite said women often pushed past her to get close to him. She felt jealous at times. Fame was slowly making their marriage harder.

Marguerite Whitley’s Children and Family

Marguerite Whitley and O.J. Simpson had three children together. Their first child, Arnelle Simpson, was born on December 4, 1968. Their second child, Jason Lamar Simpson, was born on April 21, 1970. Both grew up while their father played football.

Their third child was a daughter named Aaren Lashone Simpson. She was born in 1977. Marguerite spent much of her time caring for the children. Family pictures from those years show them spending time together at their home.

Arnelle later became known for standing by her father during his court cases. Jason grew up and worked as a chef. Both children chose mostly private lives. Sadly, their little sister Aaren never had the chance to grow up.

The Heartbreaking Death of Aaren Simpson

A very sad event changed Marguerite Whitley’s life in August 1979. Her youngest daughter, Aaren, was found unconscious in a swimming pool at the family home. She was rushed to the hospital, where doctors worked hard to save her.

Sadly, Aaren died later that month. She was only 23 months old. Her death came just months after her parents ended their marriage. The family held a private funeral. It was a painful time for Marguerite and her children.

O.J. Simpson rarely spoke about Aaren’s death. In a 2004 interview, he said it was a great loss for the family. Marguerite also kept her feelings private. The loss of their little girl remains one of the saddest parts of her life.

Why Marguerite Whitley and O.J. Simpson Divorced

Marguerite Whitley and O.J. Simpson had problems during their marriage. Simpson was often away because of football. Marguerite stayed home with their children. His fame also brought many changes. She wanted a quiet family life, but things became harder.

In 1973, Marguerite asked a lawyer to help her get a divorce. She later changed her mind and stayed with Simpson. However, their problems continued. In 1977, Simpson met Nicole Brown while he was still married to Marguerite.

The couple started living apart in 1978. Their divorce became final in 1979 after almost 12 years together. Simpson later said fame was one reason their marriage ended. Marguerite then began a new chapter of her life.

Marguerite Whitley’s Life After Divorce

Life after divorce brought many changes for Marguerite Whitley. She had two young children to raise. She was also dealing with the sad loss of her youngest daughter. Money problems with Simpson made this time even harder.

In 1981, Marguerite went to court because she said Simpson owed her $26,000. They later reached an agreement. Reports said Simpson had to pay $1,500 each month to help care for their children. Their money problems took time to settle.

Marguerite also worked as an interior designer. She owned a home in Los Angeles and another property. Later, reports said both properties faced money problems. Even with these struggles, she tried to keep her personal life away from the news.

Marguerite Whitley’s Second and Third Marriages

After her divorce from Simpson, Marguerite Whitley found love again. She married Rudolph Lewis in July 1986. He worked as a transit supervisor. The couple spent about five years together before their marriage ended in divorce in 1991.

Marguerite later met Anthony Thomas. He worked as a furniture sales representative. The two got married on April 3, 1992. This was her third marriage. She had moved forward with her life after leaving her first husband.

Some reports say Marguerite and Anthony are still together in 2026. However, there is no clear recent proof of this. She has not shared much about her marriage or family life. Her current relationship status remains private.

Marguerite Whitley and O.J. Simpson’s Murder Trial

In 1994, O.J. Simpson was charged with killing his former wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ron Goldman. The case became big news across America. Marguerite Whitley was again in the public eye because of her former husband.

Marguerite supported Simpson during his trial. In a 1995 interview with Barbara Walters, she said she believed he was innocent. She also said Simpson had never hit her during their marriage. She was ready to speak for him in court.

However, a 2024 TV film shared a different story. A former police officer said he had seen signs of abuse at their home years earlier. Marguerite had denied such abuse. Simpson was found not guilty in 1995 but was later held responsible in a civil case.

Marguerite Whitley’s Net Worth and Career

Many people want to know how much money Marguerite Whitley has in 2026. Some websites say her net worth is about $3 million. However, there is no strong proof of this amount. Her true wealth is not known.

Marguerite worked as an interior designer after her marriage to Simpson. She also owned property in California. Some reports call her a businesswoman. However, there is little public information about her work or how much money she earned.

She may have earned money through her work and property. Her divorce agreement also included money from Simpson. Still, no one can say exactly how much she owns today. Marguerite has kept her money matters away from the public.

Where Is Marguerite Whitley Now in 2026?

Marguerite Whitley has lived a quiet life for many years. Some reports say she lives in Fresno, California. However, her current home has not been confirmed. She does not often appear in public or speak to the news.

Her former husband, O.J. Simpson, died on April 10, 2024. He was 76 years old and had been fighting cancer. His death brought new attention to his family, including Marguerite and their two living children, Arnelle and Jason.

Even after Simpson’s death, Marguerite has stayed away from public attention. She has shared very little about her life in recent years. People still want to know what she is doing today, but most details remain unknown.

Final Thoughts

Marguerite Whitley’s life has been full of happy and sad moments. She married O.J. Simpson when she was only 18 years old. They had three children together and shared many years before their marriage came to an end.

After their divorce, Marguerite faced many changes. She lost her youngest daughter and had money problems with Simpson. She later married two more times and worked as an interior designer. She also chose to live away from fame.

Today, Marguerite Whitley is still known as O.J. Simpson’s first wife. But her life is about more than that marriage. Her story is also about family, love, loss, and starting again after hard times.